Mode Around the Globe: Kailin Chase

Kailin Chase
@kailinchase

THE LITTLE NELL
www.thelittlenell.com
@thelittlenell
Aspen, Colorado

Photographed by JANA SCHUESSLER @janaschuessler
Videography by HANNAH LEITSCH @haley_shot_it

How did you begin your career? 
Gosh this is a long story with so many reasons why – for starters I’ve always been an artist so as I got older makeup became a more practical way to involve art into my life. Then in my junior year of business school I became obsessed with skin, so much so, that I almost dropped out of school to become a dermatologist but figured that wasn’t a smart financial decision given that I was already in so much debt with my current path, and maybe it was a phase or hobby I’d get over. Needless to say, I never got over my love for skin. So I kept learning on my own, I spoke with dermatologists, estheticians, learned how to read studies, learned about the bias in cosmetic studies, how products are sourced, formulated, manufactured, and soon enough I was sharing the information with everyone on social media and a skincare first, makeup second approach to beauty became my thing. Now my sister is a young esthetician and I am helping her learn the landscape of beauty – that’s a full circle moment for me.

How do you hope to influence people through your social media platform? What can people expect to see when visiting your social media page(s)?
I hope I can help people do a few things. First, of all, marketing in makeup and beauty is so well spun, I hope I can help people see the reality of what products can and cannot do. I hope I give people a realistic view of everyday makeup looks. I hope as I age, I provide an unapologetic and truthful view of aging. I hope I do a lot of things, I hope I can make people more educated consumers above all else.

What do you predict will be the biggest trends of this Spring/Summer season?
I think we’ll get a few things this spring. I’m betting on vintage pointed toe slingbacks, rosettes, romantic drapery, lots of sheer lace.
I think we’ll also see bright colors with a romantic essence to them. I think we’ll see people gain confidence and continue to turn away from gender conforming norms in fashion leading to more unique personal styles. I love seeing super unique looks people pull together that go off trend, I can’t wait to see more of that. Makes me feel like people are more human.

Any upcoming travel plans you’re looking forward to?
Living in Los Angeles, I kind of get the best of all worlds so I’m planning on taking advantage of the California coastline this summer, but I always love going to Puerto Rico and Mexico so you’ll absolutely see me heading down south toward the end of summer.

Favorite brands and places to shop for your favorite Summer looks?
There’s so many great places to shop these days! When I’m getting capsule pieces that I can pair with anything I like to go to Aritzia – the babaton line and the effortless pants are the best pieces in my closet. For vintage finds I like Soriteé Vintage but they sell out fast – I also love vintage shopping in LA. For trendy statement pieces I love SLA The Label. Honestly, Zara is amazing also!

What was the highlight of your trip to Aspen with Modeliste?
Skiing! Didn’t expect to leave wanting to come back to ski, but I guess I’m a changed girl!

What’s your go-to airport look? Essentials to pack in a carry-on?
I feel so silly saying this but I like wearing all white. Travel can make you feel so gross so I prefer to wear white/cream head to toe. It makes me feel cleaner, it’s a bit more elevated, and it makes me feel better on long travel days. I usually go for comfy white pants, a light top, white sneakers, and that’s really it. I don’t know what it really is about the all white look, but try it! I promise you will feel so much better!

Girls night in or Girls night out?
Girls night in always – I love a good rom-com, girl talk, snacks. I prefer intimate spaces with my girlfriends.

What’s a typical work week like for you? Any advice for staying productive throughout the week?
There’s no such thing as a typical week for me ever! But I love it that way. What I try
for, or maybe what my goals is – film a YouTube video, edit that video (takes 3-10 hours), film TikToks, film IG reels, read new studies in skincare, researching brands ingredients, etc. I’ve been doing Creative Direction as well so that fills a ton of my time and I love it. I conceptualize brand launches, build storyboards, work with cinematographers to plan shot lists, source models, plan social rollouts, edit video footage, the whole nine yards. A week is always wild, let’s say that!

What’s your go-to makeup routine? Any products you’d recommend for our Modeliste readers?
How do I narrow it down. Well your makeup starts with beautiful skin so here’s a couple skincare items I love – Caudelie Skin Perfecting Serum, Skin Medica’s TNS Advanced+ Serum, Skin Better’s moisturizer + vitamin C, Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream – those are some of my favorites I’ve had for the last couple of years. As far as makeup goes – totally depends on the weather and my skin for the day but I will say, nothing beats Nars, Makeup Forever, and Shiseido products right now. Their foundations, concealers, bronzers, blushes, they’re all top of the line for makeup artists right now but they don’t spend a ton of time on a social media presence s o they’ve become slightly underrated, but nothing beats them. My entire makeup routine is mostly made up of those brands. The Nars Light Reflecting Foundation is the best foundation of the market right now for a dewy, long lasting look – the coloring is beautiful. I think everyone in the world needs it!

What’s something your fans would be surprised to know about you?
I’m an artist – I think that surprises a lot of people. Growing up it’s all I was known for and then I became an adult and was too afraid to become a professional artist. You used to always hear about “starving artists” and how you’d never go anywhere with art, so against my better judgment I went to business school to try and make myself and talents more practical but it was never the path for me, thank goodness. Art is really my whole life, how I live and perceive people, places and things. I keep it pretty quiet cause it means a lot to me, but painting and sketching are my two favorite things in the world. I get to actualize my art through the creative direction work I do and that’s been amazing.

I also…I dip fruit in cottage cheese. Since I was a kid, I thought this was normal, but the shocked look I get from people has me thinking otherwise these days.

Where do you gain inspiration for content? Any tips & tricks you’d like to share for those inspiring to have a career like your own?
Everywhere – driving through the hills in LA gives me the most inspiration. I turn on music, drive, and let my mind wander and that’s how I get my best ideas. Then I’ll go home, find imagery that helps convey what I’m thinking. People watching gives me inspiration, art, music, friends, old movies, movies in general, light, trees, plants, animals, patterns, you can get inspiration from everywhere. To think you cannot is limiting your creativity.

What makes you different from other content creators?
Silly as it sounds, there’s no one like me and that’s my super power. I’ve always said that to myself.

What would you like to say to your fans/followers?
While I’m ranting, creativity is such a powerful skill and talent to have. It’s just now that I’m realizing that, I hope other young artists realize how powerful art and creativity is. It bleeds into every facet of good business these days, it makes people deeper and whole, it makes you a stronger problem solver in the world, keeps you open minded. I just hope young artists use their creativity as they get into the professional world. It’s something to be celebrated, not something to be thought of as less than and I think the world is ready for more creativity.